Tuesday, 9th of Winter

When the rooster crowed, Alma turned to look next to her in the bed, but Harvey wasn't there. She heard movement in the other room and brought the blanket with her to check it out. Harvey was in the kitchen, already fully dressed and sipping a cup of coffee while poking at the fire. "Morning, sweetheart," he said with a smile as she walked closer to him.

Alma opened up her arms and wrapped the blanket around him as she put her arms around his neck. She rested her head on his as he put his arms around her waist and rubbed her back. "When did you wake up?" she sleepily mumbled.

"Oh, probably an hour ago. I've got to get to the clinic early, you know. And I still need to shave."

She pulled away a little and looked down at his face. She felt along his jaw and touched his stubble. "Nah, you don't need to," she said, pulling him close again.

"I have to go soon," Harvey playfully whined with a chuckle, "and you're making this d-difficult." He looked up at her and smiled, and she gave him a little kiss on the forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"There's extra coffee for you, if you want it."

"That does sound good," she said, letting him go and wrapping the blanket around herself again as she went to the kitchen to pour herself a cup.

"And I - I hope you don't mind, but I made myself an egg."

"How dare you?!" Alma joked. "Get out of my house this instant!"

"Actually, I probably should," he said, looking at his watch. He stood, chugged the rest of his coffee, and picked up his coat from the table.

"I guess you're not going to Caroline's class today?"

"No, I unfortunately don't have time in the winter season. But I'll be, uh … thinking of you." He went around the kitchen counter to give her another hug and kiss. "Don't overwork yourself, Alma," he said. "Doctor's orders! Your health is important to me."

"Yes sir," she said flatly, sipping her coffee and looking at him over the brim.

"Bye," he said with another quick kiss on the cheek. She walked with him to the front door and watched him walk through the snow down the path into town. She shivered, hugged the blanket closer to her, and went back inside to finish her coffee and get dressed.

Alma made her usual rounds on the farm, and as she finished in the barn, she noticed that the tapper on the pine tree was full of precious tar. She bottled it up and threw it in her bag before going to the chests to organize her stuff and head into town.

Alma remembered that her pickaxe would be ready, so she went first to Clint's shop. She didn't have the ore to make bars for another tool upgrade, but she was anxious to get her pickaxe back. "Good morning, Clint!" she greeted as she came in and wiped her boots on his rug.

"Hey, Alma. I imagine you're here for this. He placed the pickaxe on the counter, and she looked it over with a whistle.
"You do good work, Clint. Thank you."

"Yep, don't mention it. I'm a blacksmith. It's what I do. My father was also a blacksmith. My grandfather was a blacksmith as well. I bet you can't guess what my great-grandfather was …."

She put the pickaxe in her bag and said, "A silly clown."

Clint laughed, and Alma realized it was maybe the first time she had really seen him laugh. "Good one."

"I'll catch you around, Clint. Thank you again!" Alma went next to the general store, where she sold her animal produce. "Is Caroline having her class today?"

"I think so," Pierre said, handing her the gold for her produce. "You're welcome to go back there and ask her if you'd like, just to make sure."

"Thanks," she said, referring both to this permission and to the gold that she put in her bag. She pulled her bag tighter over her shoulders and made her way to the back door. When she walked into their living room, she was a little surprised to see there was no sign of anyone. "Caroline?" she called.

"Stop telling me how to live my life!" Abigail's voice echoed through the house. Alma froze in her tracks.

"Hey, cut it out!" Caroline said in a stern mom voice. Alma stepped a little closer to the kitchen, hugging the fireplace and listening carefully. "We're letting you live here free of charge until you finish school. It seems like you don't appreciate that at all!"

Abigail scoffed. "Stop trying to make me feel guilty."

"I'm just saying - "

"I appreciate that you and Dad are helping me out," the teen continued in a gentler voice, "but expecting me to dress the way you want is ridiculous." Her angst came out again in this second half of her statement and, again, she took a deep breath and said, a bit softer, "I'm not a little girl anymore, Mom."

There was a thick silence, and Alma heard Caroline sigh. "You're right. I'm sorry."

Alma carefully turned to go back to the store, and the floorboards creaked loudly underneath her shifting weight. "Is someone there?!" Abigail shouted. Alma quickly scurried away, and she heard the girl say behind her, "I swear, this house is haunted."

When Alma rushed back into the store, Pierre asked, "So? Is class on today?"

"I, uh, didn't get to ask. Caroline was busy. I'll just check back later, thanks."

"All right, see you around then!" he said, waving to her as she rushed out the front door. "If I didn't have this shop to run, I'd be outside right now too. It would be fun to throw a snowball or two."

"I'll make sure to throw one in your honor!" she called behind her.

When she stepped back outside, she thought for a moment about what to do with her time. Then she had a great idea: she should grab her sword from the chest in the mines and go back to the secret woods to check it out more! She quickly headed north to the cave to get her sword. When she opened up the chest, she saw the crystal dagger inside. "Maybe I should just sell this," she thought. She looked at it for another minute then pulled it out and went to the Adventurers' Guild.

On the way, she saw an artifact just under the snow. She took out her hoe to dig it out. It looked like some sort of jug with a large hole in the ceramic. Alma gently wiped away the snow, careful not to cut herself on the jagged edges. It was a beautiful artifact, and she was anxious to show it to Gunther too. But first, she thought, the Adventurers' Guild.

"Well, look who it is!" Marlon said as Alma entered. "What can I do for you today, ma'am? More questions about Jasper?"

"Not today, no. Just a little business." She put the dagger on the counter and said, "I got this in the mines, but I think I prefer the feel of a longsword instead."

"And you just bought that claymore," he said, nodding to the large scabbard on her back.

"Right, so I'd like to sell it."

"Understandable," he said, taking the dagger and giving her some gold. "Be safe out there, miss." She took the gold and gave a little nod on her way out.

Alma went south again toward the museum to visit Gunther and drop off the artifact she'd found and on the way, she actually found another lost book in the snow. "Oh, a lovely amphora," he said, looking over the jug. "You see how it tapers into a more pointed bottom? That allowed for several to be stored tightly together. The two handles made for easy handling, as they were often shipped over land and sea. It's a shame about this large chunk taken out of the side, though. Still, a beautiful piece. Maybe when it's cleaned up, we'll be able to see some inscriptions or images along the outside. Many ancient cultures would draw on these to tell historical events. Time will tell," he said with raised eyebrows as he placed the vessel in a container.

"I also found another lost book," she said, placing it on the counter.

"Ah yes." Then he pointed to the stacks in the back and said, "The Book of Yoba you found is on the shelf now, if you'd like to go take a look."

"Okay, sure. Thanks." She started toward the back of the library toward the Lost Books collection, then Gunther stopped her.

"And, uh, I'm afraid you've been a bit duped."

She turned and furrowed her brows. "Oh? How's that?"

"Where did you find that smaller leaflet? Near the general store, perhaps?"

"Yes, that's right. Why?"

"It was an advertisement."

"What! No!"

"You can go see for yourself. I still included it in the collection, just to fill the shelves a bit more."

"You're that desperate, huh?" she chuckled.

"It will be historically significant someday!"

Alma wagged her head and stepped toward the back of the library to see the newest additions showcased in the Lost Books collection: a pocket-sized Book of Yoba placed on a book easel and a thick, trifold leaflet now laminated. She picked up the ad first and couldn't believe the title at the top of the front page: "Marriage Guide for Farmers." She felt her heart skip a beat, and the air around her suddenly felt cold. She took a breath before skimming over the text on the inside:

"Before you ask someone to marry you, you'll have to date them for a while first. (Ask someone to date you with a bouquet from Pierre's.)"

Under this text, there was a large clipart image of a cartoony bouquet. Alma rolled her eyes a little, remembering how Pierre was sneaky in getting her to buy one. The next page had this text:

"When you're ready to pop the big question, you'll need to give them a 'Mermaid's Pendant.' Everyone knows what it means when you present them with one of those.

It's rumored that on stormy days, the ghost of an old mariner appears in Stardew Valley, clutching just such a pendant."

Again, along with this text was a cartoony image of a ghost and a photo of a mermaid pendant, presumably the one that belonged to him or Caroline. The third fold read,

"After the wedding ceremony, your partner will move in with you. Remember to treat your spouse well …."

This text had another clipart image of a cartoon man and woman getting married, and when Alma turned to the back, she saw this large text along with a photo of Pierre standing in his store:

"They still like gifts even after marriage!

(Paid for by Pierre)"

Even though Alma couldn't help but laugh at Pierre, she still felt a pit of nervousness inside her to read this information. The idea of marriage terrified her. She read over the page again about the mermaid pendant. "Everyone knows what it means when you present them with one of those." She imagined Harvey's face for a moment as she gave him a pendant. She was confident he would accept, but … could she do it? Could she commit herself to someone again? Put herself in that kind of …. The word she wanted to use was trap. She saw his face from this morning, looking up at her with a morning smile and stubble on his cheeks. The way he said I love you …. She knew it wouldn't be a trap. But still, she thought, taking a deep breath, she felt like she had to push it from her mind. She wasn't ready. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

She put the leaflet back on the shelf and looked at the Book of Yoba. She carefully held it and gently opened to the first page:

"Before time there was only the endless golden light.

The light called out to itself … 'Yoba.'

Yoba wanted more.

Yoba swirled the golden light into a vortex. Yoba swirled and swirled until a hold formed in the eye of the vortex.

From this hole sprung a seed.

Yoba smoothed the golden light.

Yoba smoothed and smoothed, and the light became soil.

Into this soil, Yoba planted the seed.

The seed sprouted, and behold! A vine sprung skyward, twisting and probing, casting a writhing shadow onto the golden void.

After eleven days, the vine bore fruit.

Yoba, with knowing wisdom, peeled the tough skin off the fruit and saw that the world was inside.

And so that is how the world came to be."

Alma instantly felt peace. She felt small and insignificant again in the best way. She felt her fingers over the thin page before flipping to the front cover. She saw the page where someone could write their name, but the space was left empty. "So we don't know who this belonged to?" she asked Gunther.

"No. I didn't see any sign of ownership. No name, no marginalia, no notations. But I halfway presume Ms. Chalcedony-Ivanov, don't you?"

"Or one of her parents?" she suggested, placing the book back on the small easel.

"That's a possibility too." Alma made her way back to the front counter and shrugged. "Are you a woman of Yoba, Ms. Alma?"

"Not necessarily. My grandparents were, but my parents … not so much. I wasn't raised with much faith in the supernatural." As she said these words, though, she realized that the supernatural included so much more than a creation narrative and the belief in a higher power. She didn't previously believe in witches or wizards or dwarves or monsters or ghosts or goblins or spirits. But now here she was, active with all of these. Why not Yoba too? It made her mind open, and as she glanced at Gunther, she could see that he sensed this in her.

"Starting to second guess those things now, though?"

"Yeah," she answered, a little faintly. "Maybe so."

"I understand," Gunther said. "I've been in and out of faith in Yoba myself. I definitely believe there is more than we can see, and I think texts like the Book of Yoba are humans' best efforts to explain what's going on. It's so much more than what we can fathom, so how are we supposed to accurately articulate what's going on?" He gestured to the shelves. "All of this speaks volumes about human efforts to understand our place in the greater universe, and I think it takes more than a lifetime of study to comprehend. Still," he said with a little smirk, "it's fun to try, isn't it?"

Alma smiled a little too and nodded. "I suppose so."

"I see it in you when the lightbulbs go off. When you peruse the latest books. When you unearth something new. That unending discovery - that is Yoba, I believe. 'Yoba wanted more,' afterall. That seed of understanding grows into a vine that produces the fruit of knowledge and glows in the golden light of inspiration and enlightenment."

"You're quite the guru, huh, Gunther?"

"No no, just a student - for life," he chuckled. "But I wouldn't have it any other way." He gestured to the large scabbard on her back. "Where are you going with that thing?"

"The secret woods. Have you been there?"

"A bit, yes. Master Cannoli's monument is there."

"Master Cannoli? Who is that?"

"Another mystery, I'm afraid. Maybe one you can solve," he said with a growing grin.

She pulled her backpack on tighter and answered, "Then I'd better go investigate." Gunther doffed his hat to her as she turned to leave.

When she stepped out of the museum, Alma checked the time. It was about two o'clock. She was late for the aerobics class, but maybe she could still get in a bit of good exercise. She rushed to the store and could hear the thumping music as she made her way to the back. All the women were in the large living room doing their exercises, and Alma dropped her stuff by the wall and joined in. "Come on in, Alma!" Caroline called over the music. "Glad you could make it! But don't look! I'm all red and sweaty!" she laughed.

"I'll get there soon, don't worry!" Alma joined in with the other women and began moving to the music. After a while, they began their cooldown, and Alma was happy to stretch and catch her breath.

"All right, ladies, that'll do it! Great job, everyone!" They all applauded and stayed to chat for a bit, but soon, all the women headed back out to do their own thing.

"Marnie!" Alma called. "You heading back home?"

"I am, yes. You going that way?"

"Yeah, mind if I join you?"

"Sure! Come on! Jodi and I usually go that way together, so you can come with us."

Jodi looked over with a cordial smile. Alma smiled back and went to gather her things, then the three of them left together. The winter sun was starting to set by the time they left the building. It was nice to walk with the other ladies as they made their ways home. "So, Alma," Marnie started, "you've been here a while now …. How's your farm doing?"

"Oh, pretty good, I guess. It's a bit hard to tell in winter, isn't it?" she chuckled. "But the animals are all still producing, and they seem to be happy."

"Taking care of animals is easy as long as you don't forget about them!"

"How could I forget about them? I love all of them!"

"That's what I love to hear," Marnie laughed.

"Do you get tired of people asking about your farm all the time?" Jodi asked. "I think I would."

"No, I don't mind it. I still feel like I don't really know what I'm doing, so it's nice people are checking in on me."

"That's a good way to think of it, I guess." They approached Jodi's house, and she slowed down by her door. "Okay, ladies, you all have a good night!"

"Bye, Jodi!" Marnie and Alma both said with a wave. They continued toward Marnie's house, and Marnie said, "You know, I have some heaters for sale that you can put in your barn and your coop. That would help to keep your animals happy too."

"Oh, really? That's not a bad idea!"

"Yeah, I find it makes my animals pretty content during the cold season. I know you do your best to look after your animals. It's just a thought."

"I'll consider it. Thanks!"

Marnie slowed by her door. "Thanks for walking home with me. Have a good night!"

"You too. Tell Shane and Jas I said hello!" Marnie went inside, and Alma continued past the lake to the secret woods. She drew her sword this time and prepared herself for the slimes that would come her way. There were a few pockets where slimes were hiding, and as she passed, they lunged out at her. But she swung her sword and knocked them down, clearing the path. She saw several mahogany stumps, which she was glad to chop down to harvest some hardwood, and she came to the small pond, the ruins of what was once maybe a stone temple, and the statue of a mustachioed hooded man crouched on a pedestal. Under him was a plaque:

"Old Master Cannoli

'Still searching for the sweetest taste …'"

"'The sweetest taste?'" Alma thought aloud. Fruit? Dessert? She thought of Evelyn's cookies. Or Gus might know something. She looked up to the statue's large, weary-looking eyes. "I'll help you find it."

She turned to the pond behind her and instinctively cast out her fishing line. She pulled up a few pieces of trash but then pulled out a fish that she recognized from the fish tank bundle at the community center. "A woodskip! Nice." She put the fish in her bag and started to head back out toward the forest, looking back at Master Cannoli on her way out.

On her way home, Alma spent some time gathering wood in the forest. She remembered what Robin said about collecting resources through the winter, and she hadn't really been doing that. She picked up felled limbs and cut down a few trees, and soon she started to feel her energy draining. She went home, but before she went inside the cabin, she took a look at the coop and thought about the hardwood she'd gathered from the secret woods. She'd been wanting to build a fence around the coop to keep the chickens out of the crops. She dropped the wood off in the chests and gathered the hardwood she had to construct some fencing around the coop. It was getting late, though, and soon, she decided to call it a night. She went into the cabin, put some more wood on the fire, and curled up with Bisclavret in the bed.